Home & Garden

Dear Gene: I have heard that zinc strips can keep mold from forming on asphalt-shingled roofs, but how are the strips installed and where can I get them? Zinc strips are available in 3-foot lengths and in roll form. The manufacturer’s specific instructions should be followed when the strips are installed. In general, however, a […]

Dear Gene: I live in a 50-year-old brick house. The material surrounding some of the bricks has disintegrated, and the surface of some bricks also shows damage. How can this be fixed without replacing the damaged areas? The damage is caused by the penetration of moisture into the wall resulting from deterioration of the mortar […]

Dear Gene: Is it really impossible to patch a concrete driveway? A couple of contractors want to replace the entire driveway, at high cost. The largest crack is about 8 inches long and 1 inch wide. It is certainly possible to patch concrete. There are dozens of special products made for this purpose, and I […]

Dear Gene: A few years ago the pressure-regulator valve on our main water line failed and some water pipes in our home burst, causing considerable damage. We have a new valve, but I worry that it will fail as well. How will I know if it fails, and is there anything else I can do […]

Dear Gene: What is the best way to clean finished hardwood floors? Should we use plain water, vinegar-water mix, oil soap or what? I get a lot of conflicting advice. How you clean depends on the type of floor finish. Here are some guidelines based on recommendations by NOFMA: The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association (www.nofma.org), […]

Dear Gene: I have a relatively new glass shower door. I also have hard water. What is the best way to keep the door clean? After every shower, wipe the inside of the door dry with a squeegee, just as if you were cleaning a window or automobile windshield. I have used this system for […]

Dear Gene: We have a brick fireplace that was painted white but has become sooty and drab. We want to repaint it. I have had different opinions on whether I can use regular paint or must buy expensive high-temperature paint. What do you say? You should be able to use regular water-based paint unless you […]

Dear Gene: We have older wood parquet floors that look shabby and need treatment. We have been told that we can “screen sand” them and refinish them easily. I have always heard that it is very difficult to resurface floors. What do you think? Whether you can screen-sand depends on the condition of the floors. […]

Dear Gene: Our deck is shaded and regularly turns green with algae. We have pressure-washed the wood twice in three years to remove the stuff. Is there a better way? You should be able to remove the algae rather easily with a bleach-type deck cleaner such as Olympic or Wolman. These cleaners are sold at […]

Dear Gene: I plan to vent my range hood into the attic. Is this a good idea, or is there a better way? It is definitely not a good idea. Ideally the range hood should be vented to the outside, usually through the roof. This requires the installation of some ductwork but is worth the […]